Historical Chinatown Tours
Historical Chinatown Tours
5
Cultural ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursWalking ToursPrivate ToursFood Tours
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Full view

About
Here's how my tours work ... I customize them to what people want. I'm the only guide who can take people into the heritage buildings, the only one that has a Master's degree in Chinese Canadian History, and I donate money to the Chinese associations for upkeep and renovations. I take people into numerous clan and county Association buildings, to a herbal store, to a produce store, etc. Tell me what you want the focus of the tour to be and I will make it happen.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
289 reviews
Excellent
273
Very good
12
Average
1
Poor
2
Terrible
1
EwaBoy
Redmond, WA13 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
As part of our annual U.S. Thanksgiving holiday in Vancouver we scheduled a tour of Chinatown with Judy Maxwell. I have visited Chinatowns in many cities but this tour really immersed us in the community and culture of a Chinatown. We started with a Dim sum lunch in a restaurant favored by the Chinatown residents. The food was exceptional and the atmosphere was so different from the American Chinese restaurant experience. The rest of the tour was an easy walk while Judy explained the history and culture of this Chinatown. In many Chinatowns I have seen only the outside of clan (family) buildings but on this tour we went inside one. We visited spaces usually "off limits" to outside visitors. The interior decorations and artifacts were intriguing, another world. We also visited a tea shop and sipped the best green tea I've had and I learned how to properly brew a cup of green tea. We visited other shops and buildings indicative of Chinatown Vancouver. Great tour, well done Judy. We learned a lot and hope to see you again in the future.
Written December 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveller123456_13
Toronto17 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
Judy was an amazing tour guide - who would have thought that we’d have the chance to watch some of the elders playing mahjongg! We will recommend this tour to our friends and family for sure! And I he to be able to take her dumpling-making class next time I am in Vancouver!
Written November 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane L
Lyme, NH130 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
Judy Lam Maxwell is a treasure trove of insider knowledge about the history and current happenings in Vancouver’s famous Chinatown. We had a delightful two hour tour of this neighborhood with several stops inside the historic buildings and tea shops and colorful neighborhood grocery stores. Plus exploring the inside of two of neighborhood Tongs where groups of Chinese elders were playing mah jong. How authentic can you get?!
Our delicious dim sum lunch with another notable Canadian Chinese citizen, Steven Lee, who is a 4th generation resident of Chinatown and descendant of one of the founding families of Chinatown whose knowledge of dim sum and its own history was wonderful.
I’d highly recommend any one of Judy’s in-depth and fun tours plus opportunity to learn to make dim sum. She gives great richness to what you probably would not see or understand just walking down the streets of Chinatown on your own!
Written August 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C Chen
1 contribution
Jan 2023
我在中国的前同事在春节的时间来到温哥华参加会议。我的前同这是第一次来到温哥华,对很多环境尤其是关于历史很感兴趣,但因为那段时间我工作确实很忙,所以没有太多时间去陪他。我为了让他在温哥华过的充实一些,在网上查看攻略的时候。发现了Historical Chinatown Tours,并且与Judy Lam进行了联系。Judy非常热情的接待了我的同事,在特定的Tours中,不仅给我的朋友介绍了vancouver的历史,更是以在温哥华华裔后代的身份讲述了Chinatown的故事。Judy熟悉Chinatown的每一条接到,可以说每个角落的故事她都可以清晰的叙述。
20年前,我作为一个国际留学生的身份来到温哥华。作为一个中国来的,我并没有真正的去了解曾经的Chinatown,在这一点上我确实感到了一些惭愧。我不得不感谢我的同事来到这里,才有了这么好的机会去学习历史。
在Judy热心的Tours之后,我的同事也一起参加了Judy的包饺子的课程。饺子在中国的春节有着特殊的意义,不仅代表的家庭成员的团聚,也有着对新的一年完美的寄托。Judy是以为饺子大师,她知道做饺子的每一个步骤,更是要大家一起学习与参加。他做的饺子有着传统的作为,也涵盖了新的尝试。
在我的同事与Judy的tours 与包饺子的过程中,给我的同事留下了美好的温哥华之旅。他已经回到了中国,但他嘱咐我一定要告诉Judy给了他一个完美的温哥华的春节之旅,虽然他没有与家人一切度过,但是Judy给了一个温暖的春节。
My former colleague in China came to Vancouver for a conference during Chinese New Year time. My ex-colleague this was his first time in Vancouver and was interested in the environment of the city especially about the history, but I didn't have much time to spend with him because I was really busy at work during that time. In order to make his stay in Vancouver more fulfilling, I was checking out online guides. Judy received my colleague with great enthusiasm and not only introduced my friend to the history of Vancouver during the specific Tours, but also told the story of Chinatown as a descendant of Chinese in Vancouver. Judy is familiar with every corner of Chinatown and can say that she can tell the story of every corner clearly.
Twenty years ago, I came to Vancouver as an international student. Being from China, I didn't really get to know Chinatown as it once was, and I feel a bit ashamed about that. I have to thank my colleagues for coming here and having such a great opportunity to learn about history.
After Judy's enthusiastic Tours, my colleagues joined Judy's dumpling making class. Judy is a master dumpling maker who knows every step of making dumplings, and it was important for everyone to learn and participate. The dumplings Judy made had a traditional way, but also covered a new styles.
My colleague had a wonderful trip to Vancouver with Judy during his tours and dumpling making. He has already returned to China, but he asked me to make sure to tell Judy that she gave him a perfect Chinese New Year trip to Vancouver, although he did not spend everything with his family, Judy gave him a warm Chinese New Year.
20年前,我作为一个国际留学生的身份来到温哥华。作为一个中国来的,我并没有真正的去了解曾经的Chinatown,在这一点上我确实感到了一些惭愧。我不得不感谢我的同事来到这里,才有了这么好的机会去学习历史。
在Judy热心的Tours之后,我的同事也一起参加了Judy的包饺子的课程。饺子在中国的春节有着特殊的意义,不仅代表的家庭成员的团聚,也有着对新的一年完美的寄托。Judy是以为饺子大师,她知道做饺子的每一个步骤,更是要大家一起学习与参加。他做的饺子有着传统的作为,也涵盖了新的尝试。
在我的同事与Judy的tours 与包饺子的过程中,给我的同事留下了美好的温哥华之旅。他已经回到了中国,但他嘱咐我一定要告诉Judy给了他一个完美的温哥华的春节之旅,虽然他没有与家人一切度过,但是Judy给了一个温暖的春节。
My former colleague in China came to Vancouver for a conference during Chinese New Year time. My ex-colleague this was his first time in Vancouver and was interested in the environment of the city especially about the history, but I didn't have much time to spend with him because I was really busy at work during that time. In order to make his stay in Vancouver more fulfilling, I was checking out online guides. Judy received my colleague with great enthusiasm and not only introduced my friend to the history of Vancouver during the specific Tours, but also told the story of Chinatown as a descendant of Chinese in Vancouver. Judy is familiar with every corner of Chinatown and can say that she can tell the story of every corner clearly.
Twenty years ago, I came to Vancouver as an international student. Being from China, I didn't really get to know Chinatown as it once was, and I feel a bit ashamed about that. I have to thank my colleagues for coming here and having such a great opportunity to learn about history.
After Judy's enthusiastic Tours, my colleagues joined Judy's dumpling making class. Judy is a master dumpling maker who knows every step of making dumplings, and it was important for everyone to learn and participate. The dumplings Judy made had a traditional way, but also covered a new styles.
My colleague had a wonderful trip to Vancouver with Judy during his tours and dumpling making. He has already returned to China, but he asked me to make sure to tell Judy that she gave him a perfect Chinese New Year trip to Vancouver, although he did not spend everything with his family, Judy gave him a warm Chinese New Year.
Written March 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ken G
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Couples
Our time with Judy was amazing,her knowledge of Chinatown's from around the world was first class. Because of Judy's work in Vancouvers Chinatown she has access to heritage buildings that no other tour operators have. We can't wait to come back and take her master dumpling class.
Written November 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barry from Langley
1 contribution
Jan 2022
We did the tour as a surprise birthday gift for my wife, with friends and our adult daughter. We all loved Judy's telling of the history, architecture, and current state of affairs of Vancouver's Chinatown. We saw and learned so many interesting things about Vancouver's Chinatown that we never would have known without someone like Judy who is so connected in so many ways to Vancouver's Chinatown. We also loved how Judy's storytelling connected to Chinatowns around the world and the indigneous and Sikh experiences of immigration to Canada. Also, we all loved the dim sum choices by Judy. The tour and Judy were awesome! I will be recommending the tour to all my friends.
Written February 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Doreen W
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Family
I grew up going to Chinatown every weekend with my parents when I was a little girl. I have moved away since and wanted to show Chinatown’s history to my children in a way I could never explain. Judy was great in her knowledge of Chinatown and showing inside the different society buildings that I never knew existed. My children found it interesting. I would highly recommend. We also finished our tour with dumpling making, which was fun and very tasty. A nice way to end the day.
Written October 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa F
Arlington, United States19 contributions
Mar 2023
This tour is absolutely wonderful! It started with historical background of Chinatown, then a walking/talking tour of the neighborhood capped off with a delicious dim sum lunch. Judy Lam Maxwell is a super knowledgeable tour guide who has completed extensive research on Vancouver's Chinatown community. The shop owners know her and invited us into their tea shop, mahjong"parlor," and grocery store. She's familiar with and passionate about sharing the history of the various family associations and points out historic features of the old buildings, their storefront signs, and how the neighborhood has evolved during the past decades. She is eager to answer questions and encourages you to ask anything. If you spot something down and alley and want to explore, then she's more than happy to head that way and fill you in on the historic background of wherever you want to pea that catches your eye. She is also eager to answer non-Chinatown questions about Vancouver. Oh, and take some of her restaurant recommendations in the city because you'll be glad that you did! (I took this tour with a traveling companion during a mid-week in March 2023.)
Written March 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colleen G
10 contributions
Aug 2023
Came to Vancouver for a bachelorette party and had the BEST time with Judy doing her dumpling making class! Judy will customize the tour to your group needs and make sure you have the best time. She is an expert in Chinatowne and the city of Vancouver. I would book her at the beginning of your trip, as she has the best recommendations of places to go, see, and eat at! This is a must do activity when you come to Vancouver visiting or even as a fun group event if you are local! Thank you so much Judy, we will 100% be coming back :)
Written August 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie
2 contributions
Aug 2021
Getting to see Vancouver’s Chinatown through Judy Lam Maxwell’s eyes was such an enriching, enlightening, and fun experience. From architecture to living elders, her insight and access is peerless. Her knowledge (which is so vast that that is an understatement) and guidance really helped to contextualize the little Chinese-Canadian history that I knew, but Judy’s tour taught me so such more. Any questions that I asked, not once did Judy make me feel dumb for asking. I gained a greater understanding of the plights and successes the Chinese Diaspora has had, and I could not be more grateful. Judy’s tour is phenomenal and I couldn’t have chosen a better way to kick off my first trip to Vancouver.
Written September 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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